Budweiser brewer sells Australian unit to pay off debt

BRUSSELS (AP) — AB Inbev, the world’s biggest brewer with brands like Budweiser and Corona, is selling its unit in Australia to reduce debt after it decided against listing shares in Asia.

The company said Friday it is selling Carlton & United Breweries for $16 billion AUD ($11.3 billion) to Japanese rival Asahi Group.

AB Inbev, which is based in Belgium, said it will use almost all the money from the deal to pay down debt. The company has accrued high debt after going on an acquisition spree, including buying Anheuser-Busch in 2008 and its next closest rival, SABMiller, in 2015.

The company had planned to list some shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange but said this month it no longer plans to do so due to tough market conditions.

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